IDNR - Kankakee River Firewood Contract

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is conducting an Invitation for Bid (IFB) to procure a firewood concession vendor for Kankakee River State Park in Bourbonnais, Illinois, with a deadline of January 13, 2026. The vendor must supply and sell Illinois Native Firewood to the public at the park during specified operating hours (Sunday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with optional extended hours subject to approval) for the seasonal period of May 1 through October 31 annually. The vendor is responsible for providing, installing, and maintaining all equipment, including a firewood stand, trailer, or kiosk at a location designated by the Site Superintendent, and must remove all infrastructure upon contract termination or face forfeiture to IDNR. The vendor must maintain comprehensive financial records, submit annual profit and loss statements by May 1, provide a competitive price list by March 15 each year, and comply with all safety, maintenance, and operational requirements. Additionally, the vendor must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, Auto Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Worker's Compensation Insurance as required by law, with IDNR named as additional insured. Firewood must be sourced from within 50 miles of the concession location or provided as heat-treated firewood in original packaging with appropriate Department of Agriculture labeling. The contract term runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030 (five years), with an optional renewal for an additional five years in one-year increments not to exceed ten years total, and the contract is subject to termination for cause immediately or for convenience with thirty days' notice. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for December 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time via WebEx.

No specific set-asides for minority-owned, women-owned, disadvantaged enterprises, or veteran-owned businesses are indicated in this procurement; however, all vendors must complete comprehensive vendor disclosure forms and certify compliance with numerous Illinois and federal requirements, including compliance with the Illinois Department of Human Rights regulations if employing 15 or more employees, State Board of Elections registration if applicable, drug-free workplace standards, equal employment opportunity policies, and environmental and ethical procurement standards. The contract does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it reference integration with existing infrastructure or technology. Vendor selection will be based on the highest bid price calculated as the sum of the initial five-year rent payments plus the five-year renewal rent payments, with a minimum acceptable annual rent of $400 and rent payments due by April 30 each year; while specific budget ranges are not disclosed, the compensation structure is entirely based on competitive annual rent bidding. No federal funding is indicated for this contract. All prospective bidders must submit the required Vendor Disclosure form and Standard Illinois Certifications form with their bid response and must comply with all representations and certifications as material conditions of contract award and performance.